About Me
Karen Esposito MRCSLT
I completed my professional clinical training in Speech & Language Pathology and Therapy at Manchester University in 1996, going on to specialise in the assessment and treatment of dysphonia (voice disorders).
I have over 20 years of experience as a Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) and Expert Vocal Coach, offering individual assessment, therapy and coaching sessions as well as group workshops and presentations.
As I see patients and clients from all over the world, the majority of my sessions are held online via video. Online sessions give more flexibility and allow you to access therapy or coaching from the comfort of your own home. Studies and research suggests online therapy can be just as effective as meeting face to face (although there are certain therapy techniques that require in person contact!)
Occasionally, it may be possible to arrange in person appointments if you live in Sheffield or Derbyshire, UK.
I continue to work part of my week in the NHS at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHSFT as part of specialist teams in busy clinics for patients with voice problems (dysphonia) and upper respiratory tract disorders (Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) and chronic cough) and act as an advisor to the Royal College of Speech and language Therapists (RCSLT).
I provide regular in person and online training to health and creative/performance professionals and groups or organisations who wish to learn more about how the voice works, how to improve vocal and communication skills and how to protect the voice against future problems,
Due to decades of experience, my speech therapist and voice coaching approach has evolved to become flexible and eclectic.
While keeping up to date with research and evidence-based practise, I also strive to stay flexible and open minded and combine the use of well-known voice therapy techniques such as Voicecraft®, Accent Method, Resonant Voice Therapy, laryngeal manipulation, & SOVT with observations and knowledge gathered from the worlds of vocal performance, singing, health and wellbeing.
Dysphonia: Voice Disorders
What is Dysphonia?
If your voice has changed, you could be experiencing dysphonia (voice disorder). Voice disorders are a range of conditions that affect the larynx. Your voice may be:
- hoarse
- strained
- weak
- breathy
- low in volume
- reduced in pitch range
- difficult to control/unpredictable
Your voice may even have disappeared altogether (aphonia).
You may also be experiencing:
- pain and/or discomfort when speaking.
- feeling that you need to cough or clear your throat more regularly than usual
- other people commenting on how you sound or asking you to repeat yourself
- difficulty raising the volume of your voice and making yourself heard
- loss of some of your pitch range or volume
- problems speaking on the telephone, in social situations and at work.
You first step should be to seek advice from your GP, who may refer you on to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon for assessment. With any persistent voice change beyond 4-6 weeks, you need to have been assessed by an ENT Consultant within the previous 6 months before we can progress to voice therapy (there are exceptions so just get in touch to discuss if you are unsure). This is to identify any underlying conditions that may need medical or surgical treatment and to provide as much information as possible about how your larynx looks and functions.
There are many possible causes of dysphonia, including:
- Inappropriate muscle tension
- voice misuse (possibly associated with your occupation)
- infection
- nodules or cysts
- haemorrhaging (burst blood vessels)
- vocal cord paralysis or weakness (temporary or permanent damage to the nerves supplying the vocal cords)
- neurological conditions (e.g. laryngeal dystonia, Parkinson’s Disease)
- psychological factors such as anxiety or depression
- allergies
- hormonal variation
- in very rare cases, cancer
Your ENT Consultant/Laryngologist will either advise surgery or, more likely, referral to a speech therapist-SLT/SLP (same thing!) who specialises in voice disorders for a programme of voice therapy. If there are no clinical concerns, a combined therapeutic and voice coaching approach may be beneficial.
I work closely with ENT Consultants based in Sheffield and Derbyshire but am also able to accept referrals from anywhere in the UK. If you are not based in the UK, please contact me to discuss how I can help you.
Karen Esposito Voice Services
SLT/Voice Therapy
Performance & Vocal Coaching
Performance & Vocal Coaching
Individual voice therapy sessions with an experienced specialist speech therapist who will devise treatment plans that address your unique issues and experiences
Performance & Vocal Coaching
Performance & Vocal Coaching
Performance & Vocal Coaching
Individual or group sessions devised by a specialist speech therapist with extensive experience in voice coaching for performers and those who want to improve and develop their vocal skills, provided with confidentiality and sensitivity for the pressure experienced by performers with voice concerns
Voice in Business
Performance & Vocal Coaching
Teacher & Lecturer Voices
Voice and speech skills are essential tools of the trade for anyone dealing with people in business. My workshops are customised to the vocal demands upon your staff, service users and working environment based on my decades of experience as a speech therapist with additional extensive voice coaching experience
Teacher & Lecturer Voices
Teacher & Lecturer Voices
Teacher & Lecturer Voices
Effective vocal techniques are core tools in education. Livelihoods can be at stake and it is vital that voice problems are addressed as early as possible with appropriate voice coaching from a skilled speech therapist. Contact me to discuss staff training sessions. Enquiries from individual teachers/lecturers with voice concerns are also welcome
Vocal Expert Consultancy
Teacher & Lecturer Voices
Vocal Expert Consultancy
I welcome enquiries from anyone requiring advice, information or guidance on anything voice related from a voice coaching, speech therapist or vocal performer perspective